Welcome to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Podcast for March 31st, 2006.
This week, Rose Art Industries Inc. conducted a replacement program for about 3.8 million All Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets.
Tiny magnets inside the plastic building pieces and rods can fall out. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract to each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal. This product is unsuitable for young children.
CPSC is aware of 34 incidents involving small magnets, including one death and four serious injuries.
The All Magnetix magnetic building sets including the X-treme Combo, Micro, and Extreme sets.
They were Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, Fred Meyer, Design Science Toys Ltd., A.C. Moore, and other toy and arts and crafts stores nationwide. The Magnetix magnetic building sets were sold from September 2003 through March 2006.
Stop using the magnetic sets and return the sets to Rose Art for a free replacement product suitable for young children under the age of 6. Consumers should be sure to keep all small magnet parts out of the hands of children who mouth objects, especially children under the age of three.
For additional information, contact Rose Art at (800) 779-7122, or visit Rose Art’s Web site at www.roseart.com.
In other news, CPSC is urging consumers check their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms
when changing their clocks on Sunday, April 2nd. CPSC advises consumers to replace the batteries in smoke and CO alarms to ensure they are protected.
Also, some manufacturers recommend that consumers replace smoke alarms every 10 years and replace CO alarms every 5 years. The sensors in these devices can degrade because of environmental contamination and from age.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas that consumers cannot see or smell. Sources of carbon monoxide include an automobile engine running in an attached garage; a fuel-burning appliance that is installed improperly or connected to a blocked or leaking vent system; or a portable gasoline-powered generator, charcoal grill or camp stove improperly used indoors.
In addition to replacing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least once every year, CPSC recommends testing them monthly. Smoke alarms should be place on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom. Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed outside each sleeping area. Battery backup is an important consideration for those alarms that are powered by your home’s electrical system.
Finally this week, Spring is here and millions of Americans are heading outdoors to take part in their favorite sports activities.
But gearing up for fun also means wearing the right gear. For CPSC, that means wearing a helmet each time you jump on a bike or skateboard, or put on your in-line skates.
CPSC released a new helmet guide this week called, “Which Helmet for Which Activity.” It’s free and available by calling CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.
CPSC believes the guide will help consumers determine the best type of helmet for their activity and help to prevent head and brain injuries.
Wearing a bicycle helmet while biking, for example, can reduce your risk of head injury by 85 percent.
A proper fit is as important as wearing the correct helmet in helping prevent head injuries. A helmet should be both comfortable and snug. Be sure that it is level on your head, not tilted back on the top of the head or pulled too low over the forehead. It should not move in any direction when adjusted properly. Make sure the chin strap is securely buckled so the helmet doesn’t move or fall off during a fall or collision.
For additional information on all recalls announced by CPSC, visit our Web site at www.cpsc.gov. Also, visit Recalls.gov to get complete information on recalls announced by CPSC and other government agencies. Until next time, stay safe.
End.